President calls BJP leaders over seating at I-Day reception

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday called senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders after they expressed their displeasure over seating arrangements during the Independence Day ‘At Home’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“He called the opposition leaders. They were unhappy with the seating arrangements. He said he has taken note of their views and will see what can be done (in the future),” an official in the president’s office told IANS.

The official also clarified that the seating arrangements for Wednesday’s function were as per practice.

“He (president) told them that the seating arrangement was as per the precedent and there was no departure. No discourtesy has been shown,” the official said.

BJP leaders were upset as they were seated away from the special enclosure at the Mughal Gardens where the president, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi were seated.

Viewing it as a snub, BJP sources said they wanted to take up the issue with the president’s office.

Earlier, the party expressed displeasure when Advani was given a seat in the fourth row during the vice president’s swearing-in ceremony Aug 11.